Opinion: My Best Hire - Romola Christopherson

'Romola joined Media Strategy in 1999 after a distinguished career as director of comms at the Department of Health.

'Clients adored her lack of jargon and years of obvious experience. Rom so oozed common sense that one client still says he misses her advice more than 15 months after her untimely death. As do I.

'She frowned on New Labour's more exotic "spin" tactics. Six months ago, Ken Clarke opened a Commons debate on government comms by holding Romola up as the best example of a Whitehall communicator.

'She would have been wickedly amused that her memorial bash was the same night the Government confirmed David Kelly's details to the media, and many of the protagonists from the MoD, Number 10 and press were there.'